Johannesburg
Inside century-old Somerset House, a former bank office, Thunder Walker is a bar/restaurant/events venue with a historic twist. The building's interior is…
Must-see attractions in Gauteng
Johannesburg
This architecturally striking museum – it's built on either side and on top of a busy street – in Alexandra, Jo’burg’s oldest township, finally opened in…
Pretoria
Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, these sweeping sandstone buildings are the headquarters of government and home to the presidential offices. They're not…
Johannesburg
Fenced off from the southern end of sketchy Joubert Park is this elegant Lutyens-designed gallery dating from 1915. The JAG has one of the largest art…
Gauteng
This gorgeous sculpture park marks an evolutionary advancement for South African creative arts. Leading local and international sculptors, painters and…
Gauteng
Open pit mining for diamonds started here in 1903. Two years later the largest rough gem diamond ever found – a 3106-carat whopper – was unearthed here…
Pretoria
The rebirth of downtown Pretoria has been given a kickstart by the redevelopment of this set of buildings into an events, arts and social hub. Check out…
Gauteng
South Africa's largest Catholic church, with a capacity of 5000, was an important meeting point during the apartheid years. It's a calm and impressive…
Johannesburg
This striking spiral structure houses unusual sculptures, sketches and contemporary works by local artists and has wonderful views from its roof. It is…
Johannesburg
The Workhorse Bronze Foundry, based in a former factory in the gritty centre of downtown Jo'burg, is where many of South Africa's top sculptors create…
Gauteng
Nelson Mandela lived with his first wife, Evelyn, and later with his second wife, Winnie, in this four-room house, just off Vilakazi St. The museum…
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Pretoria
Located around 9km east of central Pretoria, these gardens cover 7700 sq m and are planted with indigenous flora from around the country. There are 20,000…
Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication
Gauteng
Located in Kliptown, the oldest settlement in Soweto to accommodate all races, the Walter Sisulu Sq of Dedication is the site where the Freedom Charter…
Pretoria
There are panoramic views from the 1889 fort that was one of four built to defend Pretoria, although in the end it was never used for that purpose…
Johannesburg
This museum, housed in the old Bree St fruit market, offers a wide range of exhibitions on historical themes, including the Treason Trials of 1956–61, the…
Pretoria
On 31 May 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging, which ended the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), was signed in the dining room of this stately mansion. Highlights…
Walter and Albertina Sisulu Statue
Johannesburg
By Jo'burg artist Marina Walsh, this charming statue depicts larger-than-life versions of the Sisulus in their elder years, seated and facing each other…
Johannesburg
Founded by renowned South African artist William Kentridge, the centre is an incubator and platform for experimental, collaborative and cross-disciplinary…
Johannesburg
Based on Bob Gasini's famous photo of Mandela shadow boxing in 1952, this 5m-tall painted steel sculpture by Jo'burg artist Marco Cianfanelli stands…
Pretoria
Specialising in South African art from most of the country’s history, this good gallery contains works by all the big local hitters, from Jacob Hendrik…
Johannesburg
The Carlton Centre (223m) has been Africa's tallest building since 1973. The basement shelters a buzzing shopping mall. For awesome city vistas, head to…
Johannesburg
This 10-storey-tall mural by Capetonian street artist Freddy Sam (aka Ricky Lee Gordon) is inspired by the famous photo taken by Robert Gosani of Madiba…
Johannesburg
A key player in South Africa's art world, Everard Read is a superb gallery curating regularly changing exhibitions of contemporary works. As well as its…
Pretoria National Zoological Gardens
Pretoria
There’s a reptile park and an aquarium here, as well as a vast collection of exotic trees and plenty of picnic spots. The highlight, though, is the cable…
National Cultural History Museum
Pretoria
Concentrating on the cultural history of South Africa, this museum features exhibitions on San rock art, Iron Age figurines from Limpopo and a small…
Johannesburg
Painted an unmissable acid yellow and turquoise, this art-deco building was originally a car showroom but was revamped in 2016 by the property developers…
Johannesburg
Standing out against the more modern warehouse conversions in Maboneng is this former pub dating from 1902. The handsome whitewashed building now hosts a…
Pretoria
JC Smuts' home for over 40 years has been turned into an interesting museum. With a wide veranda and shady trees, it has a family atmosphere and gives a…
Johannesburg
At every desk in this handsome multilevel library (first opened in 1935 and designed by John Perry in an Italianate style) sit people reading and working…
Pretoria
The former residence of Paul Kruger, president of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900, has been preserved as a museum. Built in 1884 and guarded…
Johannesburg
An icon of the city's rebirth, this massive power station was refurbished in 2007 and now houses the impressive new headquarters of AngloGold Ashanti as…
Johannesburg
If you've not made it out on safari, this long-established zoo offers a chance to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) as well as…
Johannesburg
This fine late-Edwardian building received a welcome renovation in 2012. Designed by William Hawke and William McKinlay in a mixture of neo-classical and…
Johannesburg
Ninety per cent Disneyland clone, this theme park offers a vaudevillian ride through Johannesburg’s gold-rush period with a token nod to historical…
Gauteng
North of Vilakazi St is Hector Pieterson Sq; it’s named after the 12-year-old who was shot dead in the run-up to the Soweto uprising in 1976. The poignant…
Gauteng
A place associated with the country's history, in this cemetery you’ll find the graves of Joe Slovo (plot B35311; the former leader of the South African…
Gauteng
For over two decades the same family has run tours at the first official gold mine on the Witwatersrand – operations started in 1881. Guided tours leave…
Gauteng
This brick tower right on Walter Sisulu Sq symbolises freedom and democracy. It's built where the Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the…
Johannesburg
One of Jozi's most noteworthy heritage buildings is this grand post office dating from 1897. It sat empty and dilapidated for years and was gutted by fire…
Johannesburg
One the more established commercial galleries in Braamfontein is worth a look. It has two display spaces that it puts to good use with regularly changing…
